Duper `Caught' In Dea Sting

Ex-dolphin, Brother-in-law Face Cocaine-trafficking Charges

May 21, 1994|By MICHAEL MAYO Staff Writer

Former Miami Dolphins receiver Mark Duper wanted to make his football comeback in Shreveport, La., in coming weeks. Federal drug agents said he also wanted to make a quick score there, by selling a kilogram of cocaine.

Agents said the plan was foiled early Friday when Duper was arrested at his Coral Springs home after a monthlong investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Duper was arrested on federal drug charges shortly after his brother-in-law, Brian Briggs, was arrested at a Pompano Beach hotel in a sting operation.

Duper, 35, and Briggs, 25, are accused of conspiring to obtain cocaine with intent to distribute and cocaine possession, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd King said.

"It's a big mistake," Duper told an acquaintance on Friday afternoon after appearing in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

U.S. Magistrate Lurana Snow ordered Duper and Briggs released on $200,000 signature bonds. They are scheduled to appear June 9 for a preliminary hearing or arraignment.

If convicted, Duper and Briggs face mandatory jail terms of at least five years under federal sentencing guidelines.

Duper's attorney, Larry Handfield of Miami, said Duper would fight the charges.

"We believe he was set up," Handfield said. "It's too early right now to go into details."

Acting on a tip from a confidential informant that Duper was buying and using cocaine, the DEA and Coral Springs Police Department initiated the investigation in April. The informant recorded a series of conversations with Duper in bars, restaurants and at his home.

According to a sworn affidavit by DEA case agent Robert McKnight, Duper fronted $8,000 of $18,000 to buy a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine, which he planned to tape to the bottom of a rental car and sell in Shreveport.

"Duper told the informant that the cocaine market in Shreveport was very lucrative ... [and) that he needed to make $300,000 as quickly as possible," the affidavit said.

According to the affidavit, Duper needed to make money because of financial difficulties.

Duper made $1.15 million in 1992, his last season with the Dolphins. He was released last July after an 11-year career.

Duper's 6,200-square-foot Coral Springs house is valued at more than $500,000, Broward's chief appraiser said. He owns a 19-acre horse ranch in Marksville, La., where his mother and two brothers live.

He also has four cars registered in his name in Florida, including a 1988 Porsche 911, a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL and a 1992 Dodge Caravan that Briggs drove to the Ramada Inn in Pompano Beach, where he was arrested. Briggs is the younger brother of Duper's wife, Cynthia.

According to the affidavit, Duper gave $8,000 to the informant and told him to "do the deal" in a meeting on Wednesday at Duper's home, in the 12000 block of Magnolia Court in the Eagle Point development.

On Thursday afternoon, Duper met with the informant and the purported suppliers - McKnight and another undercoverat the Flavors of Italy Restaurant on University Drive in Coral Springs. According to the affidavit, Duper told the agents he wanted the informant to do the "betting" and that "we will all be winners."Duper said he did not want to be present when the "bet" was made.

Russ Martin, a waiter at the restaurant, said Duper and four men sat in the lounge area and talked for about an hour. Duper ate fresh mozzarella and roasted red peppers in garlic oil and drank water.

"He didn't pay the bill. The other men did," Martin said. "I was shocked [when I heard about his arrest). When I saw the news, it rang a bell real quick. I figured somebody had to be a cop."

At 10 p.m. Thursday, the informant called Duper to tell him the cocaine had arrived, according to the affidavit. After several conversations on how to rendezvous, Duper sent Briggs to the hotel to meet the informant. Briggs arrived at 12:30 a.m. Friday, and allegedly took a duffel bag containing the cocaine. Briggs was arrested as he walked out of the hotel.

After Briggs' arrest, the informant called Duper and told him that "everything's OK" and that Briggs was on his way home. According to the affidavit, Duper asked the informant, "Did you take any of it?" Duper was arrested shortly thereafter.

Duper, a three-time Pro Bowl player who legally changed his middle name to "Super," was the Dolphins' all-time leading receiver with 8,869 yards. He did not play in the NFL last year after being cut by Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Duper signed with the expansion Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League on April 19. Training camp begins on Friday.

Duper has been tainted in the past by allegations of drug use. He was suspended by the NFL for the final three games of the 1988 season after declining to take a drug test. Earlier that season, he tested positive for an illegal drug, a result he disputed.

In December 1988, Sports Illustrated reported that Duper was buying and using cocaine "as far back as 1986."The report linked Duper with convicted drug dealers and traffickers.

Duper will be allowed to go to Shreveport for training camp. A spokeswoman for the Pirates said the team would not take any action against Duper until the case was resolved. "He's innocent until proven guilty," public relations director Missy Setters said.

In an interview last month, Duper said the Dolphins "made a mistake when they let me go because I'm better than either Irving Fryar or Mark Ingram. I'm going to show [the Dolphins) and the rest of the NFL that I'm still a great receiver."